The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-10
Select Story.
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
Being the Personal Statement of
BedelI Gruncher, NJ. A.

Bedell Gruncher, FL. A.
From The CoTnhM Magazine.
There are certain misconceptions which
man who is prominently before the public
is morally bound to combat-more for the
sake of others than his owns soon as il
becomes probable that the popular estimate
of his character may be shaken, if not shat
tered, should he hold his peace. Convinced
as l am of this, and having some ground tC
anticipate that the next few days may wit
ness a damaging blow to my personal dig
nifty and influence for good, [ have thought
it expedient to publish the true history o.
an episode which, if unexplained, is only
too likely to prejudice me to a serious ex
tent. Any circumstance that tends to un-
dermine or lessen the world reverence fol
its instructors is deplorable calamity, tc
be aycrted at all hazards-even when this
can only be effected by disclosures scarcely
less painful to delicate mind.
For some years 1, Bedell Gruncher, have
consecrated my poor talents to the guild
ance and education Of public taste in cues
tons of art and literature. To do this eff
fectively, 1 have labored-at the cost Of
some personal Inconvenience acquire 9
critical style of light and playful badinage
NV lash has ever been wreathed in rib
hons of rare texture and daintiest hues; ]
ns-e thrown cold water in abundance oven
the n'fA~ent flames of young ambition-but
such watei~--Eas Systematically tinctured
with altar OF ro7ss. And in time the
articles appearing IN Serio-s pcriodicals
above the signature OF "Vitriol 6ecdnfe, ]
NAV acknowledge without false modesty, SC
many literary events of the first magnitude
l attribute this to my early recognition Of
the true function of critic. Ii is not fol
him to set up signposts, or even warning
boards. for those who run and read. Tt
attain true distinction he should erect
pillory upon his study table, and start the
fun himself with choice selection of the
literary analogues of the superannuatct
eggs and futile kittens which served al
projectiles in the past. The public may b.
trusted to keep it going, and also to retain
grateful recollection of the original pro
moter of the sport. Ny little weekly anf
monthly pillories became instantly popular
for all my kittens were well aimed, and my
eggs broke and struck in highly enter
tanning fashion. We are so constituted
that even the worst of us is capable of ;
kindly feeling toward the benefactor VIII
makes others imperishably ridiculous IL
our eyes, and to do this was my meter
moi. At first my identity with the livel..
but terrible "Vitrior was kept protunt
secret, gradually, by some means which
do not at present remember, it leaked GU
and l Immediately became social as vel
as literary celebrity, Physically l hav
been endowed with a presence which
though not Of unusual height and some
what inclined to central expansion, produces
find, an invariably imposing effect, especl
ally with members of the more emotlona
and impressionable sex. Consequently
was not surprised even at the really extra
ordinary sensation inspired upon my hrs
introduction to a very charming youn
lady, Miss Iris Waverley, as soon as m
non. de guerre was Il forget just now b
whom incidentally alluded to. However
as it turned out, she had another and
deeper reason for emotion; 1t seemed sh
had been engaged to young poet who's
verses, to her untaught and girlish luds
ment, seemed inspired by draughts OF tn
true Helicon, and whose rhythmical raj
lures had stirred her maiden heart to II
depths.
Well, that young poets latest volume
verse came under my notice for review, an
in my customary light-hearted fashion
held it up for general derision for column
or two, and then dismissed it, with an il
effaceable epigrammatic kick, to spin ft
ever approximately down the rIngin
grooves Of criticism.
Miss Waverly, it happened, was incline
to correct her own views by the opinions
others, and was, moreover, exceptlonabl
sensitive to any association of ridicule vat
the objects of her a.tachment-indeed, ST
once dispatched dog she fondly loved
the lethal chamber at Battersea, merely b
cause all the hair had come off the POI
animals tall My trenchant sarcasms ha
depoetized her lover in a similar fashio
, their livid lightning revealed the baldnes
the glaring absurdity of the very stanz
which once had filed her eyes with de
cious tears; he was dismissed, and soon di
! appeared altogether from circles which
had Gin perfect innocence) rendered II
possible to him.
Notwithstanding this, Miss Waverley
first sentiments toward me were scarcel
oddly enough, of unmixed gratitude.
t represented the rod, and very common
; able feeling of propriety made her UNIV
ling to kiss me on a first intervie
!. though as our intimacy advanced-we
n there are subjects on which | claim t
, privilege Of manly reticenee.
!. | hasten over, then, the intermedIi
i stages of antisathy, fear, respect, intere
i and alteration. In me she recognized
8 intellect naturally superior, TOO indifere
and unambitious to give life to its own i
! aeinings; too honest, too devoted to humi
= ity, to withhold merited condemnati
!. from those Of others. ] was the radi'
!, sun whose searching beams melted the "
e from the pinions of many modern lear
or, to put the metaph or less ingenious
the shining light in which, by an irresis
!, BILE impulse Of self-destruction, the poet
% and artistic moths few and incontinen
e, frizzled.
One trait in my character which
valued above all others was the caut